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Monday, October 7, 2013

Summer Storm

Sometimes you just have to love things for what they are. I intended for this to look like a bento box quilt, but there isn't really enough contrast in the fabrics to truly reflect that pattern. I love making quilts with lots of different, busy fabrics, and I'm just not sure that works with a bento box.

Instead, it really looks like a scrap explosion of yellows and grays, and frankly, I'm okay with that. Even though it doesn't have the look I envisioned, I'm still pleased with how it turned out.

I know I cannot possibly be the only person who over-collects fabrics for quilts (please tell me I'm not the only one!). In the name of fabric variety, I always end up with way too much! I had so much fabric for this quilt, that I refused to buy more fabric for the backing, and just made it reversible with the leftovers.

I had tons of Kona Coal left over from when I made the four quilts from my grandfather's shirts, so I decided to use it (well, some of it anyway) to bind this one. I think the solid amongst all of the busy patterns works really well.

I love those summer storms where one part of the sky is dark gray and pouring rain, and yet the sun shines brightly right through it. It's almost magical. The shades of gray dappled with sunshiny yellows in this quilt remind me of those times, and so Summer Storm seemed to be the perfect name.

Nope. It's not a bento box in the traditional sense of the pattern. But the colors and fabrics are fresh and modern, and the very angular pattern still works with them. Well, sometimes you live and learn- and then end up loving it anyway!

Don't know what a bento box is, but I love your quilt!! I think the pattern and the fabrics are perfect together!!! You are to hard on yourself!! I always buy to much fabric, I can't help it! And I don't buy with a specific project in mind, which doesn't help. And I love using the leftovers for scrappy backs, or I plain just make something pieced for the back in other fabrics. I call it a 2fer. 2 quilts in 1!! You're normal or we are both unique!! lol

I really like quilts that suggest a pattern without necessarily shouting it. I think it's an offshoot of the low volume craze - a rejection of the idea that a quilt has to have contrast to be successful.

I also overbuy fabric, just because i love that fabric so much and i afraid to run out of it. It can be hard to get your hands on modern quilting fabrics here, so i buy whatever i see and what goes whith the rest of my collection.Estheresthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot comipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

Beautiful quilt and the name is perfect! I think many of us over-collect...that is why we all have great stashes! The solid for the binding really works! Thanks for sharing.Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

Your Summer Storm is a winner in my book too. I love making backings from my left overs from the tops. It's always fun to use up scraps and get a free (?) quilt. lol Of course I forget that I did pay money for the fabric years before. Did you do a simple meander for the quilting?

I think we all have that love hate relationship with our quilting sometimes...I'm learning to step away...as it always looks better the next day! This one is a winner! Where can I find this pattern as I think it would be a fun one to make!

yes :::raising her hand::: I DO over collect fabric. Sometimes I even forget I have enough and keep collecting after the quilt is FINISHED! HA! I like the colors in this...As much as I love brights, its nice to have one that is busy enough to see the pattern but does not hit you over the head when you enter the room! I'm working on a scrappy Mumbo Gumbo (sorta looks like a Bento Box, but scrappy)...THAT puppy is gonna be wild!

Well, to bump this up to 2015, came across your gorgeous Bento Box-inspired quilt and had to laugh - I was collecting grey and yellow fabrics and looking for a Bento Box-like quilt pattern, and there you were with your 'Summer Storm' quilt, I had to laugh out loud! Love this quilt! How many fabrics did you end up using in total? I lost count at 12. Also, can you tell me how large the quilt ended up being, and how large a block was? Going to hit EQ7 and do some designing. Just love this quilt!!

Thank you so much Patty! I'm happy you like it! If I had to guess, I probably used close to 20 different fabrics. I LOVE lots of fabric variety, and as you can see, I don't worry about leftovers, because I just use them in the back! The finished quilt was 60 x 60 inches, and each block finished at 15 inches. Good luck with yours! Yellow and gray is such a fun color combo.

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